More Blood Spilled As Violence Continues To Shake The Occupied West Bank

Palestinians living in the occupied West Bank have been living under the rule of the Israeli military for more than half a century. Jerusalem has been occupied by Israel since 1967 and many Palestinians are hoping that one day Palestine may be an independent state.

Recently U.S. President Donald Trump announced that he had plans to move the U.S. Embassy to Jerusalem; a decision which was met with hostility and anger, leading protests to erupt last Friday following this news.

A car attack near the town of Yabed claimed the lives of two Israeli soldiers and injured two others. The suspected Palestinian driver of the car, Alaa Rattab-a-Latif Kabha, fled the scene and was later captured by the Israeli forces and “lightly injured,” according to news sources. Kabha and his entire family have endured intense questioning since the attack.

According to Ghassan Kabha, the relative of the suspect and leader of the small town, the Israeli Army raided the village in the evening following the incident, returning later at 3:00 a.m. to raid 30 more homes. Ghassan also stated that a number of threats were made to those living in the community. Israel’s Defense Minister, Avigdor Lieberman, has called for the death penalty to be applied to Alaa Rattab-a-Latif Kabha. Lieberman also accused the Palestinian Authority of being behind the attack, calling the event an act of terror. The Israeli army raided another village, Barta’a, located on both Israel and the Palestinian land, where they arrested Kabha’s brother. When questioned, one of the relatives described the event as an “accident.”

The work permits of approximately 100 members of the Kabha family have been suspended by Israeli forces and these suspensions could lead to the cancellation of approximately 67 work and 26 commerce permits. The suspension – and possible cancellation – of these permits means that the family members may never again be able to enter Jerusalem.

This event of violence and bloodshed is only one of many since Trump’s decision to relocate the U.S. Embassy. In the three months following the announcement, approximately 27 Palestinians have been killed during clashes with Israeli forces.

Though the conflicts are deeply complex, many can agree that taking one life in exchange for another will not result in reconciliation.